The Oakland Raiders still have a major hole to fill at their inside linebacker position as the 2017 NFL draft approaches at the end of April, and Saturday fans got some welcome news as it appears Oakland is in the driver’s seat to land prized free agent ILB Zach Brown.

Since the start of free agency, the Raiders let former ILB Malcolm Smith walk uncontested, and have not re-signed Perry Riley Jr. despite him posting a career season in 2016.

Brown visited the Raiders in March, and it’s clear that he presents the ideal replacement for the underachieving and departed Smith. Brown left town without signing after meeting with the Raiders, and set his targets on another interested suitor in the Miami Dolphins.

If Schad’s report still holds true, then the Dolphins have dropped out of the Zach Brown free agency sweepstakes, which leaves Oakland as the only remaining option that Brown has been reported as seriously entertaining.

Landing Brown would go a long way in improving a Raiders defense that ranked No. 26 in the NFL in 2017.

Ryan is currently a student at the University of North Carolina. He grew up in the Bay Area and has had Raiders season tickets his entire life fostering his love for the NFL. He has founded his own sports website, thejrreport.com and works at the Sports Desk for the Daily Tar Heel. You can follow Ryan on twitter @rytime98 if you want to discuss anything sports.